Walk A Mile in Her Shoes Event

MUA WA Branch Assistant Secretary Will Tracey has led from the front at the weekend’s ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ event in Perth, which is raising money for White Ribbon Australia.

The event organiser’s website says: “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is an international men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence against women.

“Based on the old saying, ‘You can’t understand another person’s experience until you’ve walked a mile in their shoes’, this event sees men literally slip into high heels and walk for one mile to raise awareness and funds for sexualised violence education, prevention and remediation.

‘Walk A Mile In Her Shoes’ is designed to be a fun event to raise awareness and money for a very serious problem. The event aims to highlight and bring to the forefront the problem of gender violence against women worldwide.”

Organisers said more than $14,700 has already been raised for White Ribbon, with more money expected to arrive in coming days.

The White Ribbon Campaign is the largest global male-led movement to stop men’s violence against women. It engages and enables men and boys to lead this social change.

White Ribbon is an organisation that recognises the prevalence and damaging impact of violence against women in our community. One in three Australian women over the age of 15 report having experienced some form of physical or sexual violence. Domestic and family violence is the major cause of homelessness for women and their children. The annual cost of violence against women and their children to the Australian economy is estimated to be $13.6billion.

White Ribbon, through the White Ribbon Campaign, works to prevent violence against women by changing the attitudes and behaviours that allow it to occur. It does this through a combination of social marketing, the Ambassadors program and initiatives in communities, schools, universities, sporting codes and workplaces.

White Ribbon is a not-for-profit organisation that relies on the support and generosity of individuals as well as corporate and community partners and governments.